Sean Abbott pays tribute to the late Andrew Symonds after equalling record T20 knock

Aussie Ashes hopeful Sean Abbott has paid tribute to the late great Andrew Symonds after matching his fastest even century in England’s T20 Blast competition.

Nearly 20 years ago, Symonds beat the Middlesex attack while playing for Kent to set the record of 34 balls in the century, a record that has stood since 2004.

Now New South Wales all-rounder Abbott and Sydney Sixers have matched that feat by batting for Surrey against Kent when they ran into trouble at a precarious 4-64.

In an explosive performance, he surpassed his previous personal best T20 score of 41 by hitting 11 sixes after being promoted in the batting line-up by captain Sam Curran.

Amazingly, he managed to hit 10 of those sixes within just 17 balls. His performance was just four balls short of the fastest ever T20 century, a record held by West Indies legend Chris Gayle.

Two decades earlier, Andrew Symonds terrorized bowling attacks for Kent in the early days of T20 cricket

Abbott was relentless in his reckless innings, which included tackling compatriot Kane Richardson by batting 30 runs off a single over from his international teammate.

Ultimately, his efforts led to Surrey securing a match-winning aggregate of 223-5.

A delighted Abbott was delighted with the result, but hesitant to compare himself to Aussie legend Symonds.

“I don’t think people should talk about me and ‘Roy’ in the same breath.” he told Sky Sports.

“I don’t think I’ll get much sleep tonight, but to share that with Roy, he’s a hero of mine and hopefully we can have a beer upstairs and talk about it one day.”

The knock came seemingly out of nowhere, with Abbott’s previous high scoring 51 with the Sydney Sixers at home in Australia.

‘Need to have a chat with [Sydney Sixers captain] Moises Henriques at home – maybe I hit too low!’ laughed Abbott

Curran said the players involved saw something special in Abbott’s knock.

‘Pretty amazing. I think I said to him when he walked away, I don’t think that will happen again,” Curran said.

“I think it was just one of those nights where he’s just an incredible striker of the ball and that’s what happens in T20 cricket. In the position we were in, 60 for 4, someone had to step up, but stepping out and getting 100 from 30-odd balls is almost too special.’

Abbott thanks the crowd after scoring the fastest century in England’s T20 Blast history

Abbott became an instant fan favorite and stopped to sign autographs for young fans after his blistering knock

Symonds was a livewire batsman in all formats of the game, earning a reputation for his big hitting for Australia’s limited overs sides

Kent head coach Matt Walker recently said so ESPN how Symonds had just started T20 cricket in the early days, when other players struggled to get to grips with it

“It was almost surreal, because it was so early in T20,” Walker said.

“No one really knew how to play the game back then. It sounds very strange, but those first few years it was so far from anything we had done as cricketers.

“This new form of cricket came in where I think everyone was scratching their heads about how they’re going, some people tried the slog first, it didn’t really work, and the game passed us by and nobody really understood at all. But he got it.’

“He was a force of nature and an incredibly talented athlete who could probably have played any sport he wanted if he chose to, and he was magical, he really was absolutely magical”

“It was the presence he had everywhere he went… you felt unbeatable with a guy like that in your presence.

“He made it a great place to be those years and that period was one of the happiest I think I’ve played cricket, with that group of players and him in it.”